Adjustable clamp



J. RYDEN ET AL.

ADJUSTABLE CLAMP Filed May l5. 1926 Sept. 20, 1927.

Patented Sept. 20, 192?y JOHN Rimini AND oA-'RL "GUsTAv'soN, or ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. f

ADJUSTABLE CLAMP.

Application led May'l, 1926. Serial No.l 109,205.

This invention relates to clamps such as are adapted for use in clam-p machines extensively used in woodworking for the holding'of work after the gluing thereof.

The principal objectis to provide an adjust-'able clamp of the kin'd referred tofor bench or machine work having adjustable jaws to suit 'different heights and `shapes o f work, the jaws being adjustable |as to height tomeet the first condition, and being tiltable to meet the second condition.

Another object is to provid'ea clamphaving the jaws thereof adjustable so as to locate the center line of pressure between the jaws approximately midway of the height of thejvorkto secure substantially even distribution of pressure and thereby improve the grade of work produced.

In the carrying out of the1 above objects our invention contemplates the, use 'of accessory devices capable of application tothe conventional ystandard typ'e of bar clamp to secure the desired results, and make the standard clamp capable of a wider'range of uses. f x A TheV invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig; 1 is a side view of a standar/ d Atype of bar clamp equipped with adjustable'jaws in accordance with our invention; and

Fig; 2 is a 'plan view of Fig, 1;.

The` present invention iscapable of application with equal' facility` as an accessory to various types of bar clamps. The one shown yis selected merely forthe purposes of convenience in `illustration and comprises the conventional bar 5 having Aa fixed jaw 6 and a movable jaw 7, the latter being operated by the turning vof a handle 8 in a manner well known in the art. The bar 5, it will be noted, comprises spaced members between which a rod 9 is arranged, having a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 10 therein to receive the spring pressed latch 11 for the selective locationof the jaw 7 The jaw 7 is drawn toward the jaw 6 by the turning of a nut 12 on the threaded stud 13 secured to the end of the rod 9. This brief description will suffice to convey a general understanding vof the type of clamp to which the present improvements are particularly designed for application. The clamp obviously may be used on a machine or apart therefrom. A

According to the present invention a pair ef auxiliary jaws 16 and 17 are employed in the nature of accessories to the main jaws 6 and 7 to be adjustable as to height in relation to the bar 5 to suit different heights of work ywhile the one jaw 16 `is also cap-v able Iof tilting in the manner illustrated to adapt ,itself to the shape of the work. The jaw 17 has a clamp 1:8, thereon comprising lateral jawsz preferably formed integral therewith and arranged to embrace the' opposite. sides 'of the main jaw 7, as illustrated.

thumb Kscrew V19 inthe clamp 18 is provided to hold the jaw 17 ink its adjusted position The kjaw 16 on theother hand while also adjustable vertically on the main. jaw 6 by means of a. clamp 20 and a thumb screw 21, is not Vrigid` like the j'awjl? but is liexibly mounted for universal tiltingin a socketQQ providedvon the front of the clamp T he socket 22 receives a head 23 provided in the form of an enlargement on the end of a neck 241- extending from the back of the jaw 16 and formed preferably integral therewith. Ihe'head- Q is retained in the socket 22 in any suitable manner and preferably by a Cotter pin 25. The jaw 16 is held against lateraldisplacement bybifurcatingthe lower end thereof to straddle the bar 5. A notch, indicated at :26, isplO- vided in the lower edge of thejaw to receive the bar 5 for the purpose referred to.

vIn operationboth of the auxiliaryl jaws -16 andl areadjusted vertically in relation to the bar 5 to suit the height of the work .to be handled.A The `adjustment kofthe jaw 16 is,l moreover, made with a view tol disposing the clamp 20 thereof approximately half the height of the work. This locates the centerline Vofpressure between the two jaws approximately midway of the height of the work. vIn this way, the pressure is evenly distributed over the arca of the work and the character of the gluing is improved. It is obvious that the invention avoids two of the more outstanding objections to the present standard type of clamp in providing for adjustability as to the height of the work to be handled so that wide pieces of stock are handled with equal facility as narrow pieces, and in providing for the inclination of at least one of the jaws to accommodate itself to the work andinsure even pressure over the entire `glued area. The adjustment of the tiltable jaw to a point halt the height of the work in order properly to locate the center line of pressure between the two jaws, serves of course to further the evendistribution of pressure. In the ordinary standard clamp there was no way of insuring even distribution of pressure for different widths or heights of work.

It is believed that the foregoing description conveys a clear understanding of the in`` vention and of its purposes and advantages that any one skilled in the art to whichl the invention relates will appreciate the possible applications thereof.

lIVe claim:

` l. In a clamp comprising a bar and a pair of jaws presenting opposed flat and parallel faces for clamping work therebetween 'when one of the jaws is adjusted toward the other, a pair of auxiliary jaws arranged to be removably mounted on said main jaws in front lol ythe clamping faces thereof, said auxiliary jaws having holding means on the backs thereof arranged to be verticallyadj ustable on the main aws whereby the auxiliary jaws 4are adjustable above the rheight of the main jaws to increase the capacity of the clamp as respects the height of the work to be handled.

2. In a structure set forth Ain claim l, the provision with one of the auxiliary jaws of va flexible connect-ion in theholding means, whereby the auxiliary jaw is adjustable not only as to height. but also as to inclination so as toconform itself t the work being handled.

3. In a clamp, the combination with a bar and a clamping jaw thereo-n presenting a broad flat face for engagement with work to be clamped, of an auxiliary jaw to be reinovablyanounted in front of the clamping face of the lnain jaw and to be adjustable in a plane parallel thereto up and down as respects the bar, said jaw having a clamping bracket on rthe back thereof comprising a pair of'lateral jaws to pass about the sides of the main and have capacity for movement up anddown thereon, andv a clamping screw passing through one of said lateral jaws for engagement with the main jaw' to hold the auxiliary jaw its adjusted posi-v the provision on said clamping bracket of aV hollow boss disposed behind the auxiliary jaw and open at the top and on the front -side thereof to provide a socket, a headed portion provided on the back of the auxiliary jaw arranged to be entered through the open top of said boss into said socket, and a removable cotter pin arranged to retain said headed portion in said socket.

5. In a clamp having a bar, and a pair of rigid jaws mounted thereon so that one is adjustable toward theother for oppositely engaging work therebetween, yan auxiliary jaw to be mounted infront of the vface of one of said main jaws and having a clamping device on the back' thereof adjustable vertically on ysaid main jaw whereby said auxiliary jaw is 'arranged to be held in its adjusted vposition to suit the height of the work being handled, said clamp being provided with a socket portion,` and said auxiliary jaw havii'ig a head receivedin said socket portion to permit universal tilting movement of said auxiliary jaw with respect to said clamp.

6. In a clamp having a bar, and a pair of rigid jaws mounted thereon so ythat one is adjustable toward the other for oppositelyl engaging work therebetween, van auxiliary jaw to be mounted in front of the face of one of said main jaws and having a clamping device on the back" thereof adjustable vertically on saidmain jaw whereby'said auxiliary jaw is arranged to be held in its adjusted position to suit the height of work being handled, said clamp being'provided with a socket portion, and said auxiliary jaw having a head received in said' socket `portion to permit universalv tilting movement of said auxiliary jaw with respect tosaid `clamp, and saidrauxiliary'jaw*having the lower end thereof bifurcated to straddle lsaid bar when said jaw is adjusted near its lowermost, position. 4 l

JOHN yRYDEN; y CARL GUSTAVSON. 

